BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 136. I will not hide bean curry and foods with rice out of a desire toget more: a training to be observed.Some donors, if they see that a bhikkhu has nothing but rice in his bowl, will go outof their way to provide him with extra food. This rule is to prevent bhikkhus fromtaking advantage of their kind intentions.According to the Vibhaṅga, there is no offense if donors cover the food in one'sbowl with rice, or if one covers it with rice oneself for some reason other than adesire for more.The Commentary makes special note of the fact that the Vibhaṅga gives noexception here for a bhikkhu who is ill.37. Not being ill, I will not eat rice or bean curry that I haverequested for my own sake: a training to be observed.The Commentary to Pc 39 says that rice or bean curry here covers all foods notcovered in that rule.There is no offense in requesting these foods from relatives, from people who haveoffered an invitation to request, or if one is ill (weak from hunger would be includedhere). There is also no offense in obtaining these foods by means of one's ownresources. The Sub-commentary raised the question of how the blanket Sekhiyaexemptions for the bhikkhu acting "unintentionally" or "without mindfulness" apply tothis rule, and comes up with the following example: A bhikkhu takes the food intohis mouth and then, on feeling regret, spits it out in displeasure. A better examplemight be that of a bhikkhu who asks for these foods from a lay person and theneats them, having forgotten that the lay person's invitation to ask for such foodshas expired.The Meṇḍaka Allowance (Mv.VI.34.21) permits a bhikkhu to search for provisions ofhusked rice, kidney beans, green gram (mung beans), salt, sugar, oil, and gheewhen going on a journey through a wilderness area where almsfood will be hard tofind. For details, see the discussion under Pc 39.38. I will not look at another's bowl intent on finding fault: atraining to be observed.The K/Commentary defines finding fault as taking note of the fact that the otherbhikkhu or novice has something. What this probably means is that he has someespecially nice food that he is not sharing. The Vinaya-mukha provides analternative suggestion, that this rule refers to finding fault with another's sloppymanner of eating. Sloppiness, though, is something about which bhikkhus may446